Why Did I Become the Villainess?

Chapter 302 – Invitation

 After I asked Mother to send the letter to Lilla, Lilla immediately made a copy of my letter and passed it to the public. In just a day, everyone in the capital already knows about my letter.

 I didn't mention anything about it to my parents, so when they got home, they immediately bombarded me with questions. Mother only thought the letter I sent to Lilla was about my work in the Foundation. That's why she was still shocked when she heard what I did.

 "Csille, why didn't you tell us that you're planning to do this? Do you know how shocked we were when we heard about your letter?" Father asked in an annoyed voice.

 I take my notebook and write on it. 

 'Because I know you won't agree with it. I just want to help Prince Fraser clear his name. Is there something wrong with that?'

 Father glares at me. "What's wrong is you didn't inform his majesty and his highness about this. Do you know that his majesty is calling us to explain why you did that? Do you know how much commotion you have made?"

 I bite my lips. I know this will definitely cause commotion, but I didn't expect his majesty to call us. Is he offended because I have interfered with the issue? But I have no other choice. I don't want to be mute anymore, and that is the only thing I can think of to make my voice return.

 Mother immediately scolds Father when she sees him glaring at me. "Why are you glaring at your daughter like that? Can you calm down? We won't be able to talk to her if you continue acting like that. You're just scaring her."

 Mother sits beside me and gently holds my hand. "My dear, please forgive your Father. He was just frustrated with what was happening. But can you tell us why you didn't mention your plan to us? We could have helped you."

 I look at Mother and shake my head. Help me? I don't think they can really do that. Father is still skeptical about my engagement with Prince Fraser, and I know he won't help me if I try to defend his highness' rude behavior towards me. After all, he is the Father of Csille. How can he watch her own daughter defend the person who once disrespected her?

 'Will you really help me? I know Father doesn't still agree to continue my engagement with Prince Fraser, and I don't want him to do things he doesn't want to do. That's why I take the matters into my hand. Forgive me, Mother and Father. I just couldn't stand still and watch people criticize Prince Fraser. If this continues, I'm afraid the people will start to lose trust in Prince Fraser. And we all know that Prince Fraser is the only son of King Simmond. How can our Kingdom continue if the only heir is disregarded by the people?'

 Mother and Father look at each other before they sigh. "But dear, it is still rude to do that. You should have asked permission from his majesty first before you do that. I know your intentions are pure, and you just want to help them, but I'm sure they have a reason why they haven't released a statement about the issue. Maybe they already have planned how to handle that, but with you releasing your statement, it might have ruined their plan. That's why they are inviting you to the palace." Mother look at Father. "My dear, what are we going to do? If we let Csille face his majesty, he will surely know what happened to her voice."

 My eyes widen when I realize what Mother said. She is right. I cannot face his majesty, or else my engagement with Prince Fraser will definitely be in jeopardy. That cannot happen.

 I look at Mother and Father helplessly. 

 Father shakes his head and sighs. "We already decline his invitation a couple of times. Do you think he will appreciate it if we refuse to go to the palace again? That will be a total disrespect to his majesty. Especially the reason why he is inviting us is because it is something related to the reputation of his highness, Prince Fraser. I don't think it's possible to decline it."

 I felt my world collapse when I heard Father say. That… that means I need to face his majesty today. It also means his majesty will know that I become mute, and there's no King would let his son marry someone who is mute.

 I shake my head. No! No! I take my notebook and write on it. 

 'Mother, please help me. I don't want his majesty to cancel my engagement with Prince Fraser. Please, Mother.'

 Mother immediately hugs me tight. "Don't worry, my dear. I will not let that happen."

 Father step up. "My Countess, what do you mean? Are you planning to decline his majesty's invitation again? You know we cannot do that, right? It will be a complete disrespect to his majesty."

 Mother glares at Father. "Waltier Lauretré! So, what do you want to do, huh? Let the people know that our only daughter becomes mute? Do you want to ruin her life? You know how people regard disabled people. How can I bear to let those people look down on my only daughter? I won't give them the rights to do that."

 "My Countess, what are you saying? We cannot keep Csille's condition forever. You—"

 Mother stands up and slaps my Father's face. "Are you saying my daughter will be forever mute? No! I won't let that happen. Csille is not going to be mute forever. We were only delaying the news. We will tell people what happened once Csille recovers her voice."

 My eyes widened when I saw my Mother slap Father. I stand up and stop her. Mother is already crying now while Father is looking at Mother with disbelief clearly written on his face.

 The three of us got silent for a couple of minutes. Mother's cry is the only thing I can hear. 

 A moment after, I heard Father sigh. Then he walks towards us and hugs us both. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. I know our Csille won't be mute forever. Don't be mad anymore, My Countess."

 Mother cried even more when she heard what Father said. I just try to caress Mother's back to comfort her. As much as I want to say something to make her feel better, I know I still can't move my mouth.

 But I still try to say something. "I-I'm sorry, Mother…"

 The three of us got frozen when we heard that voice. Mother immediately breaks free from the hug and looks at me. 

 "Csille, your voice. It had returned."

 I put my hand on my mouth and cried. It finally returned. I was right. The only key for it to return is to help clear Prince Fraser's name. 

 Mother hugs me tightly while laughing. "Thank goodness, it returned. My dear is finally okay now. I'm glad. I'm sure your Brother Pascal will be happy to hear this news. We definitely need to send him a letter."

 I smile at Mother and hugs her back. I can now be at ease. Finally, my voice had returned. I can now face his majesty without worry.

 I break from Mother's hug and look at two of them. "Father, Mother, now that my voice had returned. I can now face his majesty. I am ready no matter what the consequences of my action are."

________________________________

 Mother holds my hand tightly. We are currently walking through the hallways of the Palace. The butler is guiding us to his majesty's tea room. A sign that the conversation we will have today is something important. 

 A moment after, the butler announces our presence. "Your majesty, your highness. Count and Countess Lauretré are already here with their daughter, Dame Csille."

 What did the Butler say? His highness? Did he really say, his highness? Does it mean Prince Fraser is here today? 

 I suddenly feel like I want to back out. I wasn't prepared to meet Prince Fraser today. After what happened between the two of us in the western region, I don't think I'm ready to face him. 

 A moment after, a bell rang inside. It's a sign for the butler to open the door because his majesty accepts our presence.

 The door opened, and the butler gestured his hand inside the tea room. The moment the three of us step inside, the butler immediately closes the door.

 The three of us immediately greeted his majesty and his highness, but we didn't receive the usual warm welcome from the King. He just looks at us and waves his hand. 

 "It's a good thing you had the time to answer my invitation. I thought you were planning to decline me again." Although he doesn't sound mad, I can definitely hear that his statement is a passive aggressive statement.

 Father bows his head. "Apologies, your majesty. As you know, our daughter was recuperating with the trauma she experienced because of the hurricane."

 His majesty looks at me. "Is that true, Dame Csille? Were you really traumatized by what happened?"

 I bow my head. "Yes, you're majesty. You probably heard what happened to me, so I won't describe it in full, but I was haunted by that memory every night. Sometimes my parents would even see me sparing blankly for hours. I know it's not right to decline your invitation, but I hope you can forgive me."

 I heard Mother and Father sigh softly. They are probably relieved that I was able to answer his majesty. After all, I was still a mute yesterday.

 His majesty nods his head and gestures his hand to sit. "Please sit first."

 Mother immediately guides me to sit. I am sitting in between my parents. While Prince Fraser is seated beside the King.

 We didn't immediately talk. Instead, his majesty takes his time brewing tea. After he finished brewing the tea, he even asked us if we wanted tea which the three of us accepted.

 After we all took our time sipping our teas, his majesty put down his cup and looked at me. "Dame Csille…"

 I immediately sit up straight and nervously look at his majesty. Is he planning to scold me for what I did? Did he get offended because I interfered with the issue?

 "Why did you do that? Why did you explain to people?"

 I take a soft deep breath before I answer him. "Your majesty, I apologize if I didn't ask for permission before I did that. However, I only did that because I was bothered by how the issue was progressing. I originally planned to ask for permission, but I know you're currently busy, and it'll probably take some time before you can see my letter, that's why I decided to do it on my own accord. I apologize, your majesty. I know I shouldn't act on my own will, especially it is something related to the Astalieu's. If you think I deserve punishment for what I did, I am willing to face any consequences you will impose on me."

 His majesty didn't say anything for a few seconds. He just looked at me with his expressionless face.

 Mother probably noticed my anxiety because she gently caresses my hand, as if saying that everything will be okay.

 While Father, who is sitting on my left, stands up and bows his head to his majesty. "Your majesty, I apologized for what my daughter did. However, if you will punish her, please punish me too. I didn't do a good job of parenting her."

 My eyes widened when I heard what Father said. I didn't expect he would do that. I know Father loves Csille dearly, but this is something related to Prince Fraser. I thought he would just let his majesty punish her.

 Mother, who is sitting beside me, tries to pull the hand of Father. "Waltier Lauretré!"

 Father looked at Mother, he was about to say something, but his majesty cuts him off.

 "Count…."